Clamping support



A ril 29, 1941. H. P. REIBER CLAMPING SUPPORT Filed April s, 1935 FIG-f1 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

fii. ATTORNEYS April 29, 1941. H. 'P. REIBER 2,240,195

CLAMP ING SUPPORT Filed April 6, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 i I I II A?! Z f 47 F165 FIG 11 l INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS April 29, 1941. p f 2,240,195

CLAMPING SUPPORT Filed Apri1= 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheqt 3 F169 15 W/M IINV'ENTOR. BY 71 m.

' ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1941 barren ST" 1' 2 Claims.

invention'is an improvement in supports I and relates more particularly'to a clamping'support such, for-instance,- for attaching an illumi-- nating means to another object.

While my. invention is capable ofmany applications and uses, one application may be used asanl illustration of the invention, and to this extent l have shown in the drawings .the invention applied to a lubricating gun or similar article i t Iram aware that electric lamps haveheretoiore been, attached tolubricating devices such as, for instance, those shown'in Letters. Patent. Numbers 1,165,511 and 1,924,150, and I do not.. here intend to claim as, my invention the broad combination with such a. device of. an illuminating means.

At the presenttime lubrication of an automobile chassis isaccomplished. by. the use-of various.

types of pumps, force guns, and special. nozzles, andin many instances I have found that because of the lachof proper illumination upon the fittingto which the 7 pump or gun is. applied. proper and efficient. lubrication of. vthat, part is extremely difficultr and often times. incomplete becausesof loss of lubricant, through. an improper. contact between the gunnozzleeand fitting; 1

Also, whenfittingsv are obscured by mud; and other foreign matter caked thereon, and, dueto the usual poor visibility of'parts, and fittings,,.it,is extremely, difiicultt to, properly use a grease gun orthe like without proper illumination.

While attempts have beenmade heretofore to correct these conditions, I havefoundthatthe provisionvof means for quickly attaching, a, light to a gunvor other object in, an effective manner has presented a difficult problem. This isparticularlytrue where the gun or object to which the light is attachedis of odd or irregular shape.

It is, therefore, one of' thee-ejects of my invention to overcome the diificulties, heretofore experienced and toprovide a supportforwattaching a source of illumination to. an article such as a lubricating gun. whereby the lamp may be readily and quickly attached and detached, from the gun barrel.

It is another object of my invention to provide anattaching means of this type which due to its construction affords extreme ease of operation in use, and at the same time provides a very rigid structure.

A further object of the invention consists in means for attaching a light to another object which performs a definite function at one end thereofin such a manner that the beam oflight will be directed. toward, the point where. the functionfijisl tobe performed. V

A still further object of my invention is vide a device of this nature which, by its-construction, is readily attachable to any one of a pluralitygof members of varying cylindricaljcross section.

Another objectof the inye'ntionresides, in providing a device of the class mentioned which. coml0 prises a rigidmemher and antelastic flexible atly inexpensive to manufacturer taching means ideta'chably carried, by the rigid member.v v l 1 z f It "is. still further object. of my invention to provide. aidevice which is compact and extreme:

Another object J of the invention is, to provide a device 'of'thecharacter described which requires no tools or accessories to, apply the same to, an object or to" lock the same in position.

Other objects and" advantages of. my invention Will become more apparent from the following description of several embodiments thereof, reference being had to the drawings inwhichlike parts are designated by like reference characters throughout. V

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a side elevationgof a lubricating gun showing inr n ona i d in u e;

Figure 2 is an end viewof a structure shown in Figure 1 and is taken from the; nozzle end looke ing rearwardlyf p I v Figure 3 is stop planview of vtherigid member forming apart of my invention; a

Figure :4 is aside View of the same and illustrates the adaptability of this member to cylindrlcal position of different diameters;

Figure 5*isfa sideelevation ofa second form of my invention in which the electric lamp and the conduit supporting the electric conductors to the lamp are spaced from the body of the lubricating gun at a plurality of points;

Figure 6 is 'a view of the clamping means taken on line 66 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-1 toproible band of Figure 12 shown in uncoiled position;

Figure 14 illustrates another modification of my invention which is similar in many respects to that shown in Figures 12 and 13, but it differs in other respects as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and

Figure 15 is a view of the uncoiled flexible band shown in Figure 14.

It will be understood from the description of my invention that the same in its several forms is equally applicable to uses other than to that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is described herein, and I do not limit the invention to the particular details disclosed or to the specific application herein shown.

I will describe first the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 and in Figure 11, in which the invention is shown applied to a hand gun type of lubricator.

Figure 5 shows the second embodiment of this invention also applied to the same type-lubricator.

It is to be understood however, that while the invention is shown in the drawings as applied to this type of lubricatonthe same may be applied to other types such as power gun and even lubricant dispensers of the portable type.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 and to Figure 11, the hand gun type of lubricator comprises a barrel l which has a dispensing nozzle 2 and a lever operated mechanism for feeding the lubricant from the barrel through the nozzle. The barrel usually is provided with a knurled section 3 which is located intermediate the ends of the barrel to provide a hand grip for the operator. As is usual with this and other types of lubricators, the nozzle 2 is so disposed with relation to the barrel that the axes of the two members intersect at an angle of about thirty to forty degrees for convenience of handling and operating. a

In carrying out my invention I have provided a nozzle support and clamping means for quickly and easily attaching and detaching an electric lamp to the gun barrel.

As illustrated in the above figures, the present embodiment of my invention includes a member preferably rigid and formed of metal which may be cast to form by suitable dies or by moulding.

This member 4 is provided with suitable means for securely attaching thereto an electric lamp socket and is further provided with means for carrying a clamping member which is preferably in the form of an elastic, flexible band, adapted to grip the barrel of the lubricator gun to provide a rigid connection and support for the electric light. More specifically, this embodiment of my invention includes a rigid member l which is shown in more detail in Figure 4 to comprise a projection 5, having an opening 6 therein, by which a lamp socket I may be attached and held securely within the projection 5.

In viewing the rigid member 4 as shown in Figure 4, the same includes downwardly extending and diverging arms or posts 8 and 9 which terminate at their free ends in outwardly extending enlarged or headed portions l and H.

Each of the outwardly extending enlarged portions is provided with opposed upper and lower pin receiving recesses l2 and I3 respectively. Each of the opposed recesses is in alignment with one another as shown more clearly in Figure 3, the respective outwardly projecting portions of the posts 8 and 9 being bifurcated at M and I to provide suitable opening through which the elastic flexible clamping member may extend.

It is to be noted from Figure 4 that the inner opposite walls of the downwardly diverging arms 8 and 9 are disposed at such an angle to each other so that the seating of the rigid member on a tubular gun barrel of pre-determined radii, varying, for example, between the centers l6 and I1, will at all times provide a space between the outer cylindrical wall of the gun barrel and the upper wall l8 of the member 4, there being provided but two opposed bearing surfaces between the gun barrel and the diverging arms 8 and 9 at the approximate points [9 for the center It at points 20 for the center ll.

In this manner I have provided a structure which can be seated firmly against the outer walls of the gun barrel when the elastic band is taken up to clamp the rigid member on the barrel. Side swing of the member is thus eliminated.

The elastic flexible band is illustrated at 2| and in this embodiment of my invention comprises a length of live rubber which may be of rectangular cross-section and which is provided along its end portions with a series of transversely spaced pins 22 extending through the thickness of the band in a lateral direction and extending at their ends beyond the side walls of the rubber strip. It is to be noted that the center to center distance between adjacent pins of each series is normally less than the center to center distance of the adjacent pins which are engaged in the sockets of the respective enlarged end portions of the arms 8 and 9. This is due to the spaced relationship between the upper and lower sockets or seats l2 and [3, which is sufiiciently great to cause the pins seated therein to v be placed under tension of the rubber strip to more firmly seat and retain them in their respective sockets.

The series of .pins along the ends of the rubber strip is provided for the purpose of securing a selection of adjustments in tightening the band around the gun barrel, and by virtue of this arrangement any two adjacent pins of a series may be seated in the respective upper and lower sockets l2 and I3 of the respective enlarged outwardly extending section of one of the arms.

Referring more particularly to Figure 3 it will be noted that the ends of the pins seat snugly with the sockets l 2 and I3 and that the operator is protected from the ends of the pins by means of the enlarged portions 23 closing the recesses or sockets to the outside. I

The outward contour of the enlarged portions of the arms 8 and 9 is rounded or slightly pointed at 24 so as .to increase the ease with which the adjacent pins of a series may be guided into the respective recesses l2 and I3.

The axis of the opening 6 in the projection 5 is preferably disposed at an angle of about thirty degrees to the axis of the gun barrel to which the device is attached and in this manner enables the mounting of the light socket to be so disposed whereby the beam of light is directed in the proper direction for efiicient illumination of the fitting which is to be contacted by the nozzle 2.

From the above it will readily be seen that this device is extremely simple of construction and is very easy to operate and use.

In applying the light support to the gun barrel one end of the elastic strip is secured to one of the arms 8 or 9 in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 by slipping adjacent pins 22 over the enlarged end of the arm 8 so that the extending ends .of the respective pins will be seated in the recesses l2 and I3. The elastic band is then slipped around thecircumference of the gun barrel, and is drawn tightly by the operator gripping the opposite end at 26 with the thumb and finger,

and pulling upwardly to stretch the band tightly around the gun barrel, at the same time extending the center to center distance between the adjacent pins which are to 'be seated in the seats or recesses I2 and 1'3 of the enlarged portion .H of the arm 9.

These pins are then slipped around the enlarged end and arelsnapped into place at-the respective seats as indicated in the drawings, and

the device is thereby readily and securely attached to the gun barrel. It will be noted from Figure 1, that the axis of the light socket is by virtue of the construction of the rigid member disposed in an axial line which is approximately H thirty degrees to the longitudinal axis of the gu barrel.

Of course, in thus assembling the device the operator is careful to position the band circumferenti'ally with respect to the gun barrel so that the beam of light will fall on the area to be operated upon by the nozzle 2.

To detach the device from the gun barrel it is merely necessary to 'grip one of the ends of the elastic band and by pulling upwardly on the same as shown in Figure 4, the seated pins will be further spaced apart and the upper one may be slipped over the enlarged end of the adjacent arm of the rigid member and the hand then easily removed from the gun barrel.

The above described embodiment of my invention is preferred by me because it employs only one clamping band for the light support and is therefore quite inexpensive to manufacture and apply. Furthermore, the electric conductors 30 are free to assume a position removed from the gun barrel throughout the length thereof, except for the part entering the socket. This provides for more freedom of operation and permits the operators hand to firmly grip the knurled portion of the barrel at 3 Without interference. It is found desirable to equip the socket l with a length of conductor cable which is preferably longer than the gunbarrel and to provide at its free end a coupling or cord connector to a longer piece of conductor cable. This is indicated in Figure 11.

In Figures 5 to inclusive I have illustrated a second form of my invention in which the electric lamp socket is detachably supported on the gun barrel by means of a plurality of elastic clamping bands and in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the socket, and therefore the light beam is substantially parallel to that of the gun barrel I.

In this form of my invention each clamping support may include a rigid member comprising an outwardly extending post portion 4! terminating in a head 42 which is open at 53 to receive a metal or other conductor tube 44. A set screw 4-5 is provided to fix the tube in the opening 43. The member 40 also includes a base portion which is arcuate in shape to conform generally to the contour of the gun barrel l. In cross section the base portion is channelled as at it, Figures 9 and 10, to receive an end of an elastic flexible clamping band 41. As in the previously described embodiment, this band is preferably made of live rubber and is provided in the region of each of its end portions with a series inclined slot 53,, this end of the elastic band will be firmly secured and anchored to the arcua-te base. To increase the effectiveness of the connection between the base and: the band end I prefer to make the normal dist-ancebetween centersiof the Iadjacent'pins in the series less than the distance between the'centers of the notches in the bottom of the arcuate base. In this man- 'ner the band must be stretched to properly seat the pins in the respective notches.

The opposite end of the arcuate base is formed intoa hook-ed .oriupturned end as :at 54. This end-is, of course, bifurcated to receive the opposite end portion of the band as illustrated in Figurefi so that one of the pins 13 can be seated "in the recess 55 after the band has been stretched or drawn tightly around the circumference of the :gun barrel as illustrated.

The structur'e'of each of the supports 4's may be substantially the same and the same-may be clamped by similar :means to the gun barrel in the manner just described. Inthis way the lamp socket is supported at one end of a tube or conduit at a point close to the nozzle end of the gun to direct the beam of light to the area being served by the nozzle, while the other end of the conduit 44 is supported at the rear end of the gun. It will be noted that the conduit 44 is spaced at a suficient distance from the gun barrel to permit the operator to grasp the barrel at the knurled portion 3.

While I have shown in this embodiment means for clamping a lamp socket and conduit in spaced parallel relation to the gun barrel, my invention also contemplates the use of a self contained electric light with battery connected to the gun barrel in substantially the same manner.

In Figures 12 and 13 I have illustrated a third form of the invention which is particularly adapted for small bore lubricator fittings such as those used with portable lubricant dispensers. In this embodiment the outer circumference of a light socket is indicated at fifl and the small bore lubricator fitting is indicated at El.

A rigid member 62 is formed to snugly lit the fitting as at 63 and extends on opposite sides thereof as at 64 and 65 to form supporting arms to which an elastic flexible clamping band 66 of live rubber is detachably secured.

As in the previous embodiments, the elastic band 66 is provided with a series of transverse pins 61 embedded therein and adapted to be selectively seated in the depressions 68 of the rigid member by stretching the band and slipping the pins over the headed portions 64 and 65.

In this embodiment I provide a filler comprising blocks ill and H preferably formed integral with the band 66 near the ends thereof as shown in Figure 13. These blocks provide a cushion in the space between the nozzle Gland the lamp socket 58 and serve to properly space the same at all times. Each of the blocks is curved at 12 to fit the circumference of the lamp socket 653 when the {12am encircles the same as shown in Figure In Figures 14 and 15 I have shown a slightly different embodiment to that just described. The present form is adapted to be used where it is desirable to seat the rigid member-80 to the lamp socket 8|. The rigid member is approximately semi-circular in cross-section and closely conforms to the circumference of the socket 8| as shown. At the extremities of the member are provided outwardly projecting arms 82 and 83 to which the end portions of the elastic band are removably attached as shown in Figure 14 by means of the pins 84, this band passing around the fitting 85 at its intermediate portion.

As in the embodiment shown in Figure 12, I also provide in the present form a filler to provide a spacing cushion between the socket and the fitting. This filler may consist of the blocks 86 and 81 carried by the band 88 and shaped to substantially fill the space between the socket and the fitting.

From the foregoing descriptions of the several embodiments of my invention it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive structure which is particularly useful with lubricator fittings to project a beam of light which may be fixed relative to the nozzle of the lubricator in such a manner that the area to be served by the nozzle will be brightly illuminated and therefore be rendered more easily accessible.

My invention is intended for, and is capable of, many other applications in use, and. by means of the flexible elastic attaching band, the same may be applied effectively to many different objects of various shapes without departing materially from the simplicity of its construction as herein described.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described a member having outwardly extending arms, and an elastic band for embracing an object, said band having a series of spaced transverse pins adjacent its ends for selective seating in the recesses of the respective ends of said member when the band embraces an object at its intermediate portion, the center to center distances between said pins of each series being less than the distance between the adjacent recesses in the arms of said member when the band is not under tension, the space between said pins being increased when the end portions of the band are under tension to thereby permit adjacent pins of a series to easily enter the respective adjacent recesses of the arms.

2. In a device of the class described a member having a channelled base portion and an outwardly extending socket supporting portion, the channelled base of the said member having a series of aligned slots in the side walls defining the channel, and an elastic band for embracing an object, said band having a portion adapted to lie in said channelled base and having locking pins therein for engagement in the slots of the aligned series when the band is under tension, an end of said band having detachable engagement with another portion of said member base.

HARRY P. REIBER. 

